Welcome to Ritchie County West Virginia

  Population: 10,343
  Land in square miles: 454
  Number of people per square mile: 22.8
  More facts from the 2000 Census

 Links
 Ritchie County Stats & Info

 Ritchie County Chamber of   Commerce

 West Virginia Chamber of  Commerce

 Mid Ohio Valley Regional Council

 Historical Society

Sheriff Department
 Ritchie County Sheriff's
 109 North St
 Harrisville, W V 26362
 (304)643-2262

Medical

Fire Departments

Schools
 Ritchie County High School

Local Businesses

Emergency Information
 Emergency Services

Ritchie County
Ambulance Authority

Local Newspapers:
 Ritchie Gazette
 Pennsboro News

Other Newspapers:
  The Clarksburg Exponent/Telegram

 Mountain Statesman

 Parkersburg News

RITCHIE COUNTY COURTHOUSE

Ritchie County was formed in 1843 from parts of Harrison, Lewis, and Wood Counties. It was named for Thomas Ritchie, a distinguished journalist from Richmond, Virginia, whose mother was the sister of Judge Spencer Roane, for whom Roane County was named. The size of this county is 455.27 square miles. The county seat is Harrisville. This county is bounded on the north by Pleasants and Tyler; on the east by Doddridge, on the south by Gilmer, Calhoun, and Wirt; and on the west by Wirt and Wood. The population at the first census after its creation was 3,856. By 1910, the population was near 20,000. 

More...

Hilly Ritchie County is located in the west central part of West Virginia. Formed in 1843 from parts of Harrison, Lewis and Wood counties, the county is named for Thomas Ritchie who was a Virginia journalist and politician.

Farming has always been the primary economic base for the county. Around 1900 however, oil and gas created a boom for the area, the population peaked in 1900 at 18,901. The boom died down and with it the population of the county, dropping to 10,145 by 1970, and remaining at that level today.

The county seat is Harrisville. The town was laid out in 1832 and later named for its founder Thomas Harris. The named was later changed to Ritchie Court House before be changed again back to Harrisville, this time to honor the founder's nephew, General Thomas Harris.
Source: The 55 West Virginias: A guide to the State's Counties, by E. Lee North, Published by The West Virginia University Press

Recreation
 North Bend State Park
 North Bend Rail Trail

Events
 North Bend State Park

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